Common image file formats include TIF, JPG, PNG and GIF. These open file formats can be edited by most image editing software applications and used in most page layout software applications. Most high-end digital cameras can produce both an open and a proprietary file format. Proprietary file formats, often referred to as ‘raw’ images or digital negatives, encode the data in such a way that only particular applications can open or edit the file. Proprietary formats typically do not compress the image data, so file sizes are usually very large. Your designer should be able to convert proprietary file formats to open file formats in a professional image editing program.

For books that feature full-page photography, TIF files are the most versatile. Use PNG or TIF files if the image contains transparency. Use GIF files for animations or small images such as logos. For most purposes, high-resolution JPG files should be suitable, but be aware that JPG is a compressed format – every time a JPG file is saved, the data are further compressed, which leads to deterioration of image quality. If editing a JPG image, save the edited version as a new file so that the original remains at the highest possible quality.

If you have only prints of your images, either scan them at high resolution or supply the prints to your designer, who should be able to scan them for you. Ensure that the surface of the print is clean before scanning – fingerprints or dirty marks can be almost impossible to remove from a digital image. For larger image plates, negatives, slides or other hard-copy image formats, you may need to seek a specialised service to digitise them.